Download No Place Like Home resource here - Focus Ireland

Housing Challenges• Elicit from the children how Michael could pay for accommodation when he has no money and no job.Discuss the concept of a rent allowance with the children.A rent allowance is for people whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those oftheir dependants. It consists of a rent supplement to ensure that after paying rent theirincome does not fall below a minimum level.•Ask the children to bring in copies of the Accommodation section of the local newspaper. In groups,invite the children to search the adverts for a house or flat that might be suitable for Michael, keepingin mind that he will be depending on a rent supplement to pay for the accommodation. Allow plentyof time for discussion when the children have compiled their lists of potentially suitableaccommodation. It is likely that the following challenges will be noted:Many of the adverts:1) May require ‘professionals’ as tenants2) May be looking for more than one person3) May be looking for female tenants only4) May state that rent supplement tenants need not apply.• Elicit from the children why they think the number of households on the housing waiting list in Irelandis so high. Encourage them to visit their local City or County Council’s website or to contact itshousing section to find out about:1) The number of Local Authority houses in the area2) The number of applicants on the waiting list3) The criteria for being made a priority on the list4) Any plans to build more Local Authority houses or flats.• Put one of the children in the ‘hot seat’ as a local City or County Councillor or T.D. The other childrenin the class can confront him/her about the housing challenges faced by many Irish people.Allow time for debriefing at the end of this exercise so that the children leave the rolesthey played during the ‘hot seat’ activity behind them.50